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Girl, Interrupted

Baker & TaylorRecounts the two years the author spent in the McLean psychiatric hospital and examines the reality of the hospital world

Blackwell North AmerIn 1967, after a session with a doctor she'd never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi to McLean Hospital. She spent most of the next two years on the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital that was as renowned for its famous clientele - Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor, and Ray Charles were among its patients - as for its progressive methods of treating those who could afford its rare sanctuary.In a series of spare, razor-sharp vignettes marked by startling black humor, "Kaysen writes as lucidly about the dark jumble inside her head as she does about the hospital routines, the staff, the patients." (Kirkus Reviews) Through her own experiences (augmented by pages from her medical record) and those of her fellow patients, Kaysen opens up the world of the hospital and questions the social and emotional assumptions that divide people into deviant or normal.More than a story of young women and madness, Girl, Interrupted is a brilliant evocation of a "parallel universe" set within the kaleidoscopically shifting landscape of the late sixties. It is a clear-sighted, unflinching historical document that gives lasting and specific dimension to our definitions of mental illness and recovery.

Baker & TaylorSpare vignettes recall the two years that the author spent in the McLean psychiatric hospital and investigate the reality of the hospital world. By the author of Asa, As I Knew Him. 17,500 first printing. $15,000 ad/promo. Tour.

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It's a non linear narration that takes us through the thoughts of a girl who was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Along with developing empathy to people with mental disorders, reading this enables us to see (disturbingly in every way), that we too lack a mastery over our minds (Our ego of course claims otherwise) and that being "insane" is not so well defined as we might like to believe. It's amazing that the author could grow so much in her life!

I'm giving it only 3/5 because the narration didn't really get to me because of it's non-linearity.

Girl, Interrupted is a hauntingly beautiful memoir about Susanna Kaysen’s experience at a psychiatric hospital. After one session with a psychiatrist she had never met before, Susanna Kaysen was sent away to McLean Hospital, specialized to deal with troubled young women, where she meets many characters from Lisa to Daisy. Staying there for a period of 18 months, Susanna reflects on her own mental illness and how to truly define “sanity”. This memoir shows the different ways one goes through mental illness and will change the way you think about it. 4.6 out of 5.
-@freshprinceofbooks of The Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board

Girl, Interrupted is a very interesting novel about Susanna Kaysen's own experiences at Mclean Psychiatric Hospital during the 1960’s. Kaysen recounts stories of all of the fascinating people she met in her “parallel universe,” such as other patients like Polly, Daisy, and Lisa. This memoir makes you feel like you are part of her world and helps you understand what she and others around her were going through. This is definitely worth the read and it’s fairly short so it won’t take you a while to finish. I would rate it 4/5 stars.
- @reginaphalange of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen is a novel that is famous for its very realistic portrayal of mental illness. This memoir recalls Kaysen’s experiences with mental illness and borderline personality disorder as a teen in Belmont, Massachusetts. It is a collection of anecdotes and reflections of her personal experience in a mental institute and dealing with her condition. During her stay, she meets a number of notable characters such as Lisa the sociopath, Polly the schizophrenic, and Daisy who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder. Susanna tells her personal story through her interactions and experiences with the other girls in the institute such as her escape with Lisa and her visit to Daisy’s house. Throughout the book, Susanna also struggles with her own personal breakdowns following her suicide attempt which landed her in the institute. She begins to imagine that sanity is only an idea constructed by society and believes in parallel worlds. Overall, I feel that Girl, Interrupted is a very heavy read that is brutally honest about the world of illness and what it feels like to be in that position rather than looking from a distance. Susanna’s experiences can help those who have never experienced mental illness understand and get an insight into the life of someone who has. They can also serve as comfort for those who have dealt with mental illness and show the world that depression is not something that can just be ignored. I would recommend this book to anyone who has any curiosity about or any relation to the world of mental illness.

I thought this book was a wonderful insight into Kaysen's time spent in a psychiatric hospital. Too often, psychiatric patients are portrayed as one-dimensional, horror-driven individuals that should be left alone. Kaysen reminds us that any one of us could end up in her shoes, and that's what kept me reading.

I did not realise that this book was based off of the experiences of the author until I noticed that the author and the main character shared the same first and last name. I believe that would be an indication that this is a very well-written memoir. I loved the quirky characters and truthfulness in the words. I couldn't put this one down.

I can't believe I'm saying this butt, I enjoyed the movie more... That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book but the movie is definetly juiced up more.. Still nothing beats the story told in first person. If anything I'd say read the book just to have read it. It's an easy read and definetly makes you think. We've all felt crazy at one time or another! :)

One of my favourite books of all time, along with her other book, "The Camera My Mother Gave Me."

penpencil22
Jun 23, 2011

Girl, Interrupted was a very clear book and an easy & fast read. I loved reading the medical charts throughout the book; it was interesting and something different to break up the text. I expected a lot more from it though. The chapters all seemed to be disconnected from each other which made the whole story seem disconnected too. It was more like several little memoirs combined to make a book. All in all, it was worth reading.

Summary

This is a true story, about an 18 year old girl who was brought to stay at a mental institution that is known for being home for many mentally ill stars, such as: Ray Charles and Sylvia Plath. In this book Kaysen describes what life was like there as well as introducing unique characters that manage to warm your heart.